Archive for November, 2008
health care and the end of civilization »
Tuesday, November 18th, 2008
I think we can all agree on a few things. Health care, if supplied by the government, would make us Nazis. Universal health care would lead to bureaucracy and inefficiency before it killed our children, one by one. (Those are givens.)
There are issues, but it’s the best we’ve got. It’s expensive but you get what you pay for. In the wake of providing medical care to the less fortunate we’d go broke, society would unravel and very-pregnant teens would fall down comically long flights of stairs. (Take a second for that image to sink in.)
That’s all duh right? (Obviously.) But… um… it brings up a few questions.
Why are doctors complaining about the current bureaucracy? Why (considering we’re rich as fuckall) aren’t we ranked even top twenty in health care? Why does out system provide health care for those that can already afford alternatives? Most importantly, why do I get three non-bills before I get something I have to pay?
The cost of health care is outpacing the economy like a race between Usain Bolt and Dave Matthews. We’re going to run out of primary care physicians. We advertise drugs to people that voted for Palin (like treating obesity with M&Ms and hot wings).
This the best we can do? America? Most advanced nation ever at all in forever?
S’no wonder we keep hearing about foreign countries failing under the weight of their health care systems. It’s much easier to vilify the alternative than to take the benefits, compromise with common sense, and produce an actual solution. Thanks Congress, smile bright for your reelection.
chicago in review »
Monday, November 17th, 2008
Chicago, the Windy City: awesome. I got there Friday on time (despite taking the “express” Megabus) and met up with Nate. We went out to Millennium Park, Navy Pier and the Freedom Museum, meeting up with Andrew after work.
Dinner turned out to be some sort of Top Chef-esque dinner party (courtesy @joejanas). There was a lot of drinking, followed by Tuman’s for more.
Saturday, Andrew started things off with a gigantic breakfast and then we went to Wicker Park, wandered Milwaukee and stopped in for some local retail at Urban Outfitters. For dinner, we went to Coast Sushi Bar.
Andrew talked up the specialty roll, named White Dragon, as if it were a mythical potion of sex, drugs and teen pop hits. Turns out, he downplayed it slightly. From there we went to Horseshoe to watch Fox and the Grapes and the Screaming Bulldogs. (All while drinking; obviously.)
Sunday, I went grocery shopping with Andrew and we headed downtown to meet Nate so he could head back to “the Burgh.” We had obligatory (and delicious) deep-dish at Exchequer. Andrew headed off and I wandered downtown a bit before catching the bus.
Thanks to Andrew for the hosting, Joe for the grub and Coast for a reason to live. (I’d apologize to Jo for not meeting up but she’s not a reader.)
With the drunk sleep and only two hours rest last night, the excessive walking in cold weather and the brutal ingestion battle that raged between myself and the part of my brain that recognizes limits, I’m the worse for the wear. My head and legs ache, my right foot had some sort of shooting pain last night and I’m serenading my co-cube-dwellers with a tone-deaf dry cough.
Snaps are, or will be, in the usual places. As I wander through occupational tasks in a groggy mist of wish-I-wasn’t-here, I’ll leave you with this, unrelated, question: why is this desperate call for spousal commitment seen as empowering?
friday free for all »
Friday, November 14th, 2008
… Headed to Chicago for the weekend (technically I’m on a bus already), visiting a buddy from way back in college. Another buddy is meeting up too. Should be wicked entertaining.
… Word is (as of when I’m writing this on Thursday) that the auto industry’s desperate plea for cash is being denied. One can only hope this catches on and more idiot industries don’t ask for handouts. (Not that the first set of handouts didn’t work out just swimmingly.) Accountability is impressively lacking among those that should be held accountable.
… This weekend out of town is just one of many in the next few months. I’ve writ ad nauseum of the two major trips but I’m away from home eight of the next ten weekends. Ridiculous.
… And finally:
Why aren’t we realizing we need to scale things back? Why don’t we see the Iraq and Afghanistan fuckups as signs we should reign in the imperial empire? Why don’t we see major sectors of our economy (Credit, Housing, Autos) failing as a sign we need to rethink how our business structure is built? (Obvious answer: those making money off the current system are making a lot of money.)
Ah well. I’m reducing my spending and hoping maybe to get some money directly into the market by Jan01 so I can benefit from the baby boomers’ short-sightedness. Not everyone went broke during the Depression.
rocked »
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
He’s floating, barely. His clothes are soaked through. His eyes, wide and frightened, stare to the sky while his arms struggle to keep him afloat. His arms are tired, overworked and flailing. He dips more often under the waves.
His labored breath is choked and rapid. His head spins in all directions, looking for any sign of hope. His legs are tied to a stone. It’s small but over time, as he grows more exhausted, its weight becomes more and more to bear. (more…)
worldly self: documented »
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
As mentioned Tuesday, I’m (soon to be) an international male. How is one supposed to document such a thing with a P&S FujiFilm Z1? Answer: You can’t.
So my hands were tied. I had no choice. I was practically inches away from having my fingers broken one by one if I resisted (metaphorically). At the end of my rope, painted into a corner and without alternatives, I bought a new camera.
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS
Those of you following ‘Quick Thoughts’ should know but for the rest, it’s this gorgeous piece of mmmm. 20x zoom, 10mpx and ability to zoom while recording a video should do. Prepare for unbelievably breathtaking (read: near-quality) snaps of oceanscapes, international cities and others that will stimulate your vicarious living.
I don’t mean to rub it in (maybe a little). But going from two trips to the nation’s taint, Los Angeles, within two years to Mexico and Australia within two months is a big deal. For me. Maybe not so much for you.